Another blow hits the Lightning minutes prior to Game 5

Fans thought help might had been coming for the Tampa Bay Lightning for Game 5 of the Stanley Cup Final against the Avalanche in Colorado.

On Friday morning after practice, Lightning head coach Jon Cooper provided an update on injured forwards Brayden Point and Anthony Cirelli, saying that they’d both be game-time decisions later tonight.

However, when warmups came around minutes prior to puck drop, Point was not on the ice. It was false hope, and it must be hard for the Bolts. The NHL roster report does not have him listed on for tonight's crucial contest. 

Point suffered a lower-body injury in Game 7 of the first round against the Toronto Maple Leafs and missed the next 10 games. He managed to for Games 1 and 2 of the Cup Final, with one assist, but did not play in Games 3 and 4 in Tampa.

The Lightning could have an extra motivation to fight for Game 6 in Tampa, giving more time for Point to return. 

Cirelli and defenseman Erik Cernak were on the ice for warmups ahead of Game 5.

Cirelli was in the lineup for Game 4, but sustained an upper-body injury in the second period when he fell on the ice and was clipped by the skate of teammate Alex Killorn. He had opened the scoring at 36 seconds of the first period, and managed to return for the third period and overtime of Tampa Bay’s 3-2 loss.

As for the defenseman, he blocked a shot in the second period of Game 4 and did not return, forcing Tampa Bay to play the remainder of the game with five defensemen.

This is all or nothing for the Lightning - and clearly it goes to Cernak and Cirelli personally as well.

For lineup options, insider Chris Johnston reveals that Anthony Richard, with just two prior NHL games on his resume, was on the ice for warmups.